Hungarian Music Xchange: János Egri Jnr
Jazz pianist János Egri Jr comes from a musical dynasty-his father is one of Hungary’s leading bassists. Starting his studies as a jazz vocalist at the prestigious Béla Bartók Conservatory, János worked in various top-class trios, while also taking up the piano. Writing his own compositions and arrangements, he then won the prize for “Best Improviser” at the Tirgu Mures Jazz Festival in Romania, followed by the 2020 Palace of Arts Award for one of his arrangements. In 2021, with his talent now very much in evidence, he was named Young Jazz Musician of the Year by the Hungarian Jazz Federation and also received the Junior Prima award. His style is mainstream, but he frequently references elements of both classical and popular music. For this 606 show, the programme will be made up of both jazz standards as well as his own original material, and János will be joined on the bandstand by a terrific quartet featuring the brilliant, multi-award-winning saxophonist Julian Siegel (Partisans), along with UK stalwarts, bassist Steve Watts and drummer Chris Higginbottom.
"[Julian Siegel]...one of the UK's most creative saxophonists" MOJO Magazine
Presented in association with the Hungarian based non-profit organisation Harmonia Muhely Alapitvany.